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The Sony Alpha User List is managed by chiahau. Click here to jump to it!

>>>[Sony Alpha F.A.Q<<< courtesy of Ahmike

Common Kelvin White Balance Settings:


Wireless Flash Compatibility List:


Removing Pop-Up Flash Effect In Wireless Flash Mode:


Sony Alpha Lens Line-up: HERE courtesy of vcxv

Below are the official additional accessories* that comes with respective Sony Alpha camera:

Flash hotshoe cover (Sony FASHC1AM) - A100, A77 (soft version), A700, A900
Remote Commander clip - A100, A200, A300, A350, A700, A900
Eyepiece cover / flash hotshoe cover holder - A100, A200, A300, A350, A700
Cheap Sony neckstrap - A200, A300, A350
Good Sony neckstrap - A100, A77, A700, A900
Wireless Infrared Remote Control - A700, A900

* list provided by albnok

Sony Alpha Support Page and Alpha User Manuals: Sony Support Site A200 A300/A350 A700 A900

How to clean your Alpha sensor by albnok:



Some useful links:

Tamron/Sigma/Sony/Minolta 70-200mm F2.8 Shootout
http://www.glaringnotebook.com/default.asp?id=1243

Ultra Wide Comparison
http://www.glaringnotebook.com/default.asp?id=1324



Alpha street pricelist updated 26th October 2013:

Camera

Sony A230 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM14xx
Sony A290 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM14xx
Sony A330 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM18xx
Sony A380 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM20xx
Sony A380 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM + 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT SAM = RM24xx
Sony A390 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM17xx
Sony A33 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM21xx
Sony A33 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM + 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT SAM = RM23xx
Sony A35 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM21xx
Sony A37 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM15xx
Sony A500 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM + 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT SAM = RM31xx
Sony A550 body only = RM21xx
Sony A550 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM21xx
Sony A550 + 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DT = RM40xx
Sony A580 body only = RM24xx
Sony A580 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM27xx
Sony A55 body only + 8GB MSPD HX = RM21xx
Sony A55 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM25xx
Sony A55 + 50mm F1.8 DT SAM = RM26xx (Studio Zaloon)
Sony A55 + 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 DT = RM37xx (Studio Zaloon)
Sony A57 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM18xx
Sony A58 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM19xx NEW
Sony A65 body only = RM26xx
Sony A65 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM = RM28xx
Sony A700 + 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT = RM33xx
Sony A77 body only = RM38xx
Sony A77 + 16-50mm F2.8 DT SSM = RM48xx
Sony A850 body only = RM61xx
Sony A900 body only = RM73xx (Studio Zaloon)
Sony A99 body only = RM74xx
Sony NEX-3 + 16mm F2.8 = RM16xx
Sony NEX-3 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS = RM18xx
Sony NEX-3 + 16mm F2.8 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS = RM22xx
Sony NEX-C3 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS = RM19xx
Sony NEX-F3 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS = RM18xx
Sony NEX-F3 + 16mm F2.8 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS = RM22xx
Sony NEX-F3 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS = RM25xx
Sony NEX-3N + 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 8GB SD (x2) = RM14xx NEW
Sony NEX-3N + 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS + 8GB SD = RM18xx NEW
Sony NEX-5 + 16mm F2.8 = RM21xx
Sony NEX-5 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS = RM22xx
Sony NEX-5 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 4GB MSPD = RM23xx
Sony NEX-5 + 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Active OSS + 8GB MSPD + LCD protector = RM32xx
Sony NEX-5N + 16mm F2.8 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 8GB MSPD = RM26xx
Sony NEX-5R + 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 8GB SD = RM18xx
Sony NEX-5R + 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS + 8GB SD = RM25xx
Sony NEX-6 + 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 8GB SD = RM27xx
Sony NEX-6 + 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS + 8GB SD (x2) = RM34xx
Sony NEX-7 + 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS + 16GB SD = RM39xx
Sony VG-900 = RM94xx

The following suffixes identify what lens comes with the camera body:

G = Sony 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DT
K = Sony 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT
L = Sony 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM
M = Sony 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM
P = Sony 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 DT
Q = Sony 28-75mm F2.8 SAM (or Sony 16-50mm F2.8 DT SSM with A77)
W = Sony 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT + Sony 75-300mm F4.5-5.6
X = Sony 18-70mm F3.5-5.6 DT + Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT
Y = Sony 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM + Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT (2) SAM
Z = Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 DT ZA

For Sony NEX bodies:

A = Sony E 16mm F2.8 pancake
D = Sony E 16mm F2.8 pancake + Sony E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
H = Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Active OSS
K = Sony E 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
L = Sony E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS pancake
Y = Sony E PZ 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 OSS pancake + Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS

Battery Grip

Sony VG-B30AM for A200/A300/A350 = RM6xx
Sony VG-B50AM for A450/A500/A550/A560/A580 = RM6xx
Sony VG-C70AM for A700 = RM9xx
Sony VG-C90AM for A850/A900 = RM9xx

Battery

Sony NP-FH50 battery for A230/A290/A330/A380/A390 = RM2xx
Sony NP-FW50 battery for NEX-3/NEX-C3/NEX-F3/NEX-3N/NEX-5/NEX-5N/NEX-5R/NEX-5T/NEX-6/NEX-7/A33/A35/A37/A55 = RM2xx
Sony NP-FM500H battery for A100/A200/A300/A350/A450/A500/A550/A560/A580/A700/A850/A900/A57/A58/A65/A77/A99 = RM2xx

Other Accessories

Sony FDA-EVS1 electronic viewfinder for NEX-5N = RM9xx

Flash

Sony HVL-F20S = RM3xx
Sony HVL-F20AM = RM4xx
Sony HVL-F42AM = RM7xx
Sony HVL-F43AM = RM7xx
Sony HVL-F58AM = RM11xx
Sony HVL-F60M = RM11xx

Sony/Minolta Used Lenses

Minolta 28mm F2.8 = RM450-600
Minolta 35-70 F4 (mini beercan) = RM250-400
Minolta 50mm F1.4 = RM750-850
Minolta 50mm F1.7 = RM450-600
Sony 55-200mm F4-5.6 DT = RM450-550
Minolta 70-210mm F4 (beercan) = RM750-1100
Minolta 75-300mm F4.5-5.6 (big beercan) = RM1000-1500
Sony 75-300mm F4.5-5.6 = RM450-550

New APS-C / DT Crop Lenses

Samyang 8mm F3.5 = RM10xx
Sony 11-18mm F4.5-5.6 DT = RM20xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-80mm F3.5-4.5 DT ZA = RM25xx
Sony 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 DT = RM16xx
Sony 18-250mm F3.5-6.3 DT = RM16xx
Sony 30mm F2.8 DT SAM Macro = RM7xx
Sony 35mm F1.8 DT SAM = RM6xx
Sony 50mm F1.8 DT SAM = RM5xx
Sigma 50-150mm F2.8 EX DC HSM Macro = RM30xx

E-mount Lenses For Alpha NEX Cameras

Sigma 19mm F2.8 EX DN = RM7xx
Sigma 30mm F2.8 EX DN = RM7xx
Sony E 30mm F3.5 Macro = RM7xx
Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS = RM9xx
Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Active OSS = RM21xx
Sony E Carl Zeiss 16-70mm F4 ZA = RM31xx NEW
Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS = RM8xx

New Full-Frame Lenses

Sony 16mm F2.8 Diagonal Fisheye = RM25xx
Sony 20mm F2.8 = RM19xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 16-35mm F2.8 SSM ZA = RM54xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* 24-70mm F2.8 SSM ZA = RM54xx
Sony 24-105mm F3.5-4.5 = RM18xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Distagon T* 24mm F2.0 SSM ZA = RM38xx
Sony 28mm F2.8 = RM8xx
Sony 28-75mm F2.8 SAM = RM26xx
Samyang 35mm F1.4 = RM15xx
Sony 35mm F1.4G = RM45xx
Sony 50mm F1.4 = RM10xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 50mm F1.4 ZA SSM = RM42xx NEW
Sony 50mm F2.8 Macro = RM14xx
Sony 85mm F2.8 SAM = RM8xx
Samyang 85mm F1.4 = RM10xx
Tamron 70-200mm F2.8 Macro = RM30xx
Sigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG HSM Macro = RM38xx
Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM = RM54xx
Sony 70-300mm F4.5-5.6G SSM = RM25xx
Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6G SSM = RM54xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Planar T* 85mm F1.4 ZA = RM50xx
Sony 100mm F2.8 Macro = RM23xx
Sony Carl Zeiss Sonnar T* 135mm F1.8 ZA = RM48xx
Sony 135mm F2.8/T4.5 Smooth Transition Focus = RM36xx
Sony 500mm F8.0 AF Reflex = RM25xx
Sony 300mm F2.8G SSM = RM20xxx
Sony 1.4x Teleconverter = RM15xx
Sony 2.0x Teleconverter = RM15xx
Sony LA-EA1 lens adapter = RM5xx
Sony LA-EA2 lens adapter = RM9xx
Sony VCL-ECF1 fisheye adapter = RM3xx

This post has been edited by albnok: Oct 26 2013, 07:33 PM

Userbars!

NEX:
image url: http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff385/shahibbul/AlphaNex-2.png (thanks to shahibbul!)

A100: image url: http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/2687/alpha100cb9.png

A200: image url: http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/1922/a200.png

A230: image url: http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/8318/a230.png

A300: image url: http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/2802/a300.png

A330: image url: http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/4850/a330.png

A350: image url: http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3761/a350.png

A380: image url: http://img193.imageshack.us/img193/4733/a380.png

A390:
image url: http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/5741/a390.png

A550:
image url: http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2650/a550.png

A700:
image url: http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/7245/a700.png

A850:
image url: http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/8928/a850.png

A900:
image url: http://img93.imageshack.us/img93/5185/alpha900wp4.png

The A900 has the best ISO performance measured by DxO Labs so far. Only thing that could beat it is the A99/VG900/RX-1 but that's not measured yet. My A900 definitely beats my NEX-5 and A77 at high ISO!

porkchop: Did the F58 fail, or was it just the F58 on the A99? I've heard accounts of this, but mine is working fine. Also I always carry 2 flashes for events, as it's faster to slot in an F43 than to change batteries.

goldfries: I think 8tvt was wondering why, because the 16-105mm F3.5-5.6 DT is an old screw-driven lens, and the 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 DT SAM has the new SAM motor which allows full-time manual focus override. No need to switch the lens from AF to MF.

Older SAM lenses do not allow override, and turning the focus ring when in AF mode will be very hard to do (if you do do it, it feels like you're breaking the gears inside.)

This post has been edited by albnok: Jan 17 2013, 02:24 PM

Can, the A99 will crop itself in the viewfinder and LCD.

The A900/A850 on the other hand will make it hard to frame because it cannot crop the OVF. The Nikons can do that, though.

The D3 darkens the entire area outside the APS-C rectangle, while the D700 has a darkened rectangle frame. This comes at the expense of viewfinder brightness, though.

I used to hang out with my friend who has a D700: http://www.glaringnotebook.com/default.asp?id=1218

His office was near mine, but I've since moved and haven't caught up with him much.

ieR: I tried my Minolta 50mm F1.4 Original on the A99. It does not support AF-D, as expected.

Nope, you need a step up ring LOL.

All street prices, as per the heading.

The F43 allows you to control power in 1/3 or 1/2 steps, and down to 1/128 power. It is also claimed to have moisture-proofing. However the F58 gains in maximum power and the ability to use an external battery pack for faster recharge times. Having both, I prefer the F43 for its lighter weight. That said the F60 wins all.

The F58 is older tech, with less sophisticated firmware heh. Of course, for the same price, you can get the F60 with LED light!

From the A77 onwards, there was this:

Live View Display: Setting Effect OFF

This lets you use F11 1/160s ISO100 in the studio, with a trigger, without a detected flash on body, and still get to frame the subject. If you set it to Setting Effect ON then you should see only black.

This post has been edited by albnok: Feb 8 2013, 01:32 PM

That might be misread - the A99, a full-frame SLT camera, has the vari-angle LCD also.

gOldfries: Kai is hipster, so he uses the older slogans.

Yes, if only because my Minolta 50mm F1.4 Original has a scratched rear element which exhibits itself in bokeh as an apparent petri dish. Could use the more consistent focusing too! Plus the Minolta is only great after F2.2 when Carl Zeiss' philosophy is that only depth of field changes with aperture - contrast and sharpness should stay equally good throughout.

No point, since the flange distance is smaller on the SR mount than it is on A-mount. However E-mount is a good candidate.

EV 0 means a correct exposure at F1.0 at 1 second at ISO100.

So EV -3 would mean F1.0 8 seconds at ISO100... or F1.0 1 seconds at ISO800... or F1.4 1s ISO1600 or F1.4 1/4s ISO6400.

Had a guy with an A700 and Sony 70-200mm F2.8G SSM - his mount became loose because the lens was too heavy.

Ask him to please don't use his mouth, because it will make him look like a n00b.

No point, because the Minolta/Sony A-mount flange distance is longer than Canon EF-mount and Nikon F-mount. So your adapter needs to be of negative thickness.

If you just hold the lens in front of your camera mount, it will not be able to focus on infinity. If you hold the lens further from the body, it will focus closer.

In order to correct this, you'll need an adapter with glass elements. It is in fact a small teleconverter. This means you lose light and your focal length is multiplied!

So a Tokina 11-16mm F2.8 with a Nikon to Sony adapter would give a 1.5x teleconverter effect, effectively a 16.5-24mm F4.0 lens.

Also, the optical quality will be much worse, so you might stop down to F5.6 to make it better... not worth it at all.

However if you put this lens on a Sony NEX camera where the flange distance is shorter then you don't need any optics and you retain the focal length.

If you insist on using this lens, you should just remove the lens mount altogether and find some other A-mount lens mount to screw on it. Hopefully you'll be able to focus on infinity.

Also, you only need to move the lens in front a bit to focus a lot closer for a wide-angle, compared to a telephoto.